speech on zero

Swami Vivekananda and His 1893 Speech

Photo of Swami Vivekananda in Chicago in 1893 with the handwritten words “one infinite pure and holy—beyond thought beyond qualities I bow down to thee”

Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) is best known in the United States for his groundbreaking speech to the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in which he introduced Hinduism to America and called for religious tolerance and an end to fanaticism. Born Narendranath Dutta, he was the chief disciple of the 19th-century mystic Ramakrishna and the founder of Ramakrishna Mission. Swami Vivekananda is also considered a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the West and is credited with raising the profile of Hinduism to that of a world religion.

Speech delivered by Swami Vivekananda on September 11, 1893, at the first World’s Parliament of Religions on the site of the present-day Art Institute

Sisters and Brothers of America,

It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world, I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shat­tered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: “As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.”

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: “Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me.” Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descen­dant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with vio­lence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.

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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary September 11, 2001

Vivekananda’s Chicago Speeches: What He Said – and Didn’t

Amiya P. Sen

Amiya P. Sen is retired professor of modern Indian history at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and Fellow, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Oxford.

While Swami Vivekananda’s introductory speech at the World Parliament of Religions on September 11, 1893 is widely regarded as iconic, we note that, contrary to popular opinion, he did not advocate the idea of a ‘universal religion’, but championed the concept of a common goal or destiny (i.e., human salvation) for every religious community. (Photo courtesy: Manjappabg/Wikimedia Commons)

The idea of convening a global religious assembly was suggested by a Chicago lawyer, Charles Carroll Bonney, as early as 1889 as a part of the forthcoming World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America. At the parliament itself, John Henry Barrows, the president of the organising committee, boasted that only an affluent Christian nation such as America could have hosted an event of this magnitude. Ironically, this sentiment was to be echoed by Swami Vivekananda himself in two successive speeches at the parliament (September 15 and 19, 1893). Emperor Ashoka’s councils, the swami observed, were narrowly Buddhist, and those summoned by Akbar, only ‘parlour meetings’. [1]

It is believed that one of the dominant influences behind the Parliament of Religions was the presence of American Unitarians and ‘liberal’ Christians who were willing to accommodate non-Christian religions. It is fairly well established that these groups had supported successive visits by three prominent Indians to England and the USA even before 1893: Rammohun Roy (1830), Keshub Chunder Sen (1870) and Protap Chunder Mozoomdar (1883).

The Indian presence at Chicago was impressive. There were no less than a dozen delegates invited, though not all spoke at the parliament. There were delegates representing Indian Buddhism, Jainism, Theosophy, the Brahmo Samaj, Indian Islam and Christianity. The organising committee even invited the Kartabhaja [2] leader Dulalchandra Pal, but only some 60 years after he had passed away. Sadly, both public perception and scholarly inputs tend to neglect the presence and contributions of Indian speakers other than Vivekananda.

Also read |  Perspectives on Caste: The Nineteenth-Century Bengali Literati

Between September 11 and 27, Swami Vivekananda delivered six speeches in Chicago. Of these, the opening address is the best known, if only for the novel and the somewhat dramatic way it began—addressing the audience as ‘Sisters and Brothers of America’. Interestingly, this is contested. While the official history of the parliament notes how ‘a peal of applause that lasted for several minutes’ followed the swami’s opening words, a contemporary publication titled A Chorus of Faith as Heard in the Parliament of Religions altogether omits such a reference.

In summary, the following features stand out in his Chicago speeches:

• An argument in favour of religious tolerance and accommodation as opposed to self-righteousness and bigotry, aptly illustrated by the ‘frog in the well’ ( kupamanduka ) story. In substance, Vivekananda emphasised the religious pluralism embedded in Hinduism. Contrary to widespread perceptions, the swami did not advocate the idea of a universal religion—not even of the unity of religious thought or practice—but championed the concept of a common goal or destiny (i.e., human salvation) for every religious community. [3]
• The questioning of religious conversion itself, arguing that holiness, purity and charity were not the exclusive domains of any one sect or church.

Vivekananda’s pluralism was somewhat marred by his denial of autonomy to Buddhism in relation to Hinduism. Further, his attempts to project Hinduism as a universalistic religion forced him to speak within a hierarchic framework of argument that had Hinduism, or at least his projection of it, at the top. He did not adequately address the question of whether an agreement between various religious traditions was a precondition for religious harmony. What Vivekananda also did not openly acknowledge was that even a dialogic openness between religions or admitting that they all pointed to the same God did not necessarily mean that all religions were, in essence, the same.

In substance, his addresses at the parliament were more enthused by a buoyant patriotism than a religious re-statement. This was true of most delegates from colonised Asia. Even on his first visit to the USA in 1883, Protap Chunder Mozoomdar (a leader of the Hindu reform movement) accused the West of misjudging India and Indians: ‘[W] hat the Occidental mind does not understand, it sets down to mysticism…you have no experience to give us but plenty of theories and criticisms’. In 1893 itself, a paper by author and social reformer Manilal Nanubhai Dwivedi countered presumptions in Western Christianity by suggesting that Biblical chronology itself was untenable in the light of science.

On occasion, Vivekananda’s patriotism got the better of his sense of historical objectivity. Two such instances are found in his opening address itself: when he identifies Hinduism as the ‘mother of all religions’, and when he wrongly claims that the Hindus produced the earliest order of monastics, which is more correctly associated with Buddhism.

In hindsight, Vivekananda’s popularity at Chicago may be attributed to several factors. First, there was undoubtedly the charisma of the man himself. Second, some of his statements fed into the contemporary American psyche. His point about the perfectibility of man proved attractive to a young nation that was greatly attuned to notions of success and power. Similarly, his critique of doctrinal Christianity came at a time when the American mind was growing disenchanted with such ideas.

While there was much patriotic jubilation in India following Vivekananda’s success in America, it is often overlooked that on his return to India, the much-acclaimed swami was denied access to the Dakshineswar Temple complex, where he often visited his guru, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Reportedly, this was done on the grounds that he had suffered a fall from ritual purity when he crossed the sea. Others contested the idea of a Kayastha representing ‘high Hinduism’, a right reserved only for Brahmins. Such conflicting perceptions remain an unsavoury aspect of the events of 1893. It would appear as though an otherwise proud and grateful nation also revealed moments of cultural amnesia and ingratitude.

This article was also published on Scroll.in

Notes [1] I make it a point to mention this here since the intention and substance of Vivekananda’s speeches at Chicago were otherwise quite patriotic.

[2] A popular, non-sectarian cult that took birth in eighteenth-century Bengal, known for its rebuttal of high Hinduism and free gender mixing among members.

[3] This is made clear in the very first speech on September 11 when he said, ‘We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true’. ‘Swami Vivekananda’s Speeches at the Parliament of Religions, Chicago, 1893,’ belurmath.org, n.d., accessed on September 9, 2019, https://belurmath.org/swami-vivekananda-speeches-at-the-parliament-of-r… .

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Swami Vivekananda Speech: पढ़िए स्वामी विवेकानंद के शिकागो में दिए गए महान भाषण के मुख्‍य अंश

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Innovating to Zero: Bill Gates (Full Transcript)

• November 7, 2019 10:41 am July 26, 2023 5:46 am
• by Pangambam S

Here is the full text of Bill Gates’ TED Talk titled “Innovating to Zero”.

I’m going to talk today about energy and climate. And that might seem a bit surprising, because my full-time work at the foundation is mostly about vaccines and seeds, about the things that we need to invent and deliver to help the poorest 2 billion live better lives.

But energy and climate are extremely important to these people. In fact, more important than to anyone else on the planet. The climate getting worse means that many years, their crops won’t grow: there will be too much rain, not enough rain; things will change in ways their fragile environment simply can’t support.

And that leads to starvation, it leads to uncertainty, it leads to unrest.

So, the climate changes will be terrible for them. Also, the price of energy is very important to them. In fact, if you could pick just one thing to lower the price of to reduce poverty, by far you would pick energy.

Now, the price of energy has come down over time. Really advanced civilization is based on advances in energy. The coal revolution fueled the Industrial Revolution, and, even in the 1900s, we’ve seen a very rapid decline in the price of electricity. And that’s why we have refrigerators, air-conditioning; we can make modern materials and do so many things.

And so, we’re in a wonderful situation with electricity in the rich world. But as we make it cheaper — and let’s say, let’s go for making it twice as cheap — we need to meet a new constraint, and that constraint has to do with CO2.

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The Story of Zero

The number zero denotes no objects. The number 0 was first used in the Indian subcontinent. Its use can be traced back to the 3rd Century A.D. in the Bakhshali manuscript. This new number was called ‘Shunya’ or ‘Sunyata’ in Sanskrit which means nothingness or the void which points to the lack of something that was represented by this new number. Zero has no. of uses; zero has become very crucial part of our modern systems as it is used in the binary numerical system which is the foundation of our computers today.

Zero. A number that wasn’t always a number has become the most important number in mathematics and many other subjects today. The invention of zero or rather the realisation that it was a number just like any other, was one of the most important moment and one of the  greatest leap in the history of mathematics, one that would encourage the rise of modern science. Today, the number zero forms an integral part of not just Physics, but also a part of Chemistry, Astronomy and even Computer Science!

Zero, as we know, was the last number ever to be discovered. In ancient times, people couldn’t understand the idea of denoting nothing with something! They simply expressed it with nothing. To the Greeks, the zero simply hadn’t existed. However, to the Egyptians, the Mesopotamians and even the Chinese the number existed but simply as a place holder. Similarly, even the Babylonians and the Mayans did in fact use zero but as a place holder. A place holder here means something that occupies a certain given space. But they never used a symbol. They would just leave it blank; an empty space to show a zero inside a number.  This was a very ancient idea.

For example: How would you write the number hundred and one?   Today, everyone would write it as “101”.

However, the Babylonians and the Mayans would write it with a space in between the two ‘1’s like so- “1 1”

So then where did the number zero really come from? Let’s find out!

The number 0 was first used in the Indian subcontinent. Its use can be traced back to the 3 rd Century A.D. in the Bakhshali manuscript. It was, at this time used by merchants in their calculations. However, zero did not have the same shape as it does today. It was simply a dot that was used to denote the ‘nothing’.

The zero in the form of a dot did not just appear in the Bakhshali manuscript but it can also be found in an inscription engraved on the wall of a small temple in the fort of Gwalior in the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh.  This inscription dates back to the 9 th century A.D. Thus, this dot that denoted a zero was being used for centuries in India before it was ever introduced to the world.

So, taking from our previous example where the Babylonians kept a space, the Indians used a dot instead. It would have looked something like this “1.1”. However that is just one of the uses of the number zero. Brahmagupta, a mathematician in India, in the 7 th Century A.D., developed rules to use zero in calculations such as addition and subtraction. This opened up the use of numbers in a whole new way! In this way, the Indians transformed the number zero from being a mere place holder into a number that made sense in its own place. Now with the 10 digits including the number zero, it became increasingly easy to count large numbers efficiently.

Are you wondering where the idea to use a dot to denote the absence of a number came from? I sure am.

One theory is that this idea came from the use of stones for calculations. When a stone was moved from its place, it left a round hole in its place representing the change from something to nothing. That round hole or dent looked like a dot which probably led to its use as a place holder. Thus the dot came to represent the nothingness that was present or rather the absence of a number within a larger number.

This new number was called ‘Shunya’ or ‘Sunyata’ in Sanskrit which means nothingness or the void which points to the lack of something that was represented by this new number.

The number zero became a number for calculation, for investigation and thus changed the face of mathematics. It was a revolutionary finding for the world. After this new number began to spread to different parts of the world beginning with China and the Arab countries, over the centuries, its use became more widespread and more widely accepted.

Zero has many uses, two of which we have already become privy to. One is its use as a place holder, and the other being in calculations of addition, subtraction and even multiplication. In this way zero stands as a number in itself and so its position in the number system has the important function of separating the negative numbers from the positive ones by standing in between -1 and +1.

Zero later went on to form the cornerstone, that is, the most important part of Calculus which allows one to break down systems into smaller and smaller numbers approaching zero but never having to divide by zero which is an impossible thing to do. Finally, zero has become an important part of our modern systems as it is used in the binary numerical system which is the foundation of our computers today. This makes zero, the number that means nothing, the most important number we have today as it opened up the scope of mathematics.

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PM speech on Net Zero: 20 September 2023

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sets out his new approach to Net Zero.

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s new approach to Net Zero

Let me get straight to it.

I know people in our country are frustrated with our politics.

I know they feel that much gets promised, but not enough is delivered.

I know they watch the news or read the papers and wonder why in the face of the facts as they have them, choices are made as they are.

I know that they dislike Westminster game playing, the short termism, and the lack of accountability.

But most of all I think people are tired of the false choice between two versions of change that never go beyond a slogan.

I have been Prime Minister for nearly a year now and it is the privilege of my life.

I know the fundamentals of our great country are solid and timeless.

Its people are its greatest strength, economically and socially.

Their hopes and genius are what propel us forward, not Government.

Government can set the framework, step in when needed, and step back when necessary.

It can make big decisions.

But what I have concluded during my time so far as Prime Minister, is that those decisions - the decisions that could bring real change, change that could alter the trajectory of our country -  can be so caveated, so influenced by special interests, so lacking in debate and fundamental scrutiny that we’ve stumbled into a consensus about the future of our country, that no one seems to be happy with.

And this is because too often, motivated by short term thinking, politicians have taken the easy way out.

Telling people the bits they want to hear, and not necessarily always the bits they need to hear.

We are making progress, including on my five priorities.  

Inflation – down again today and on track to be halved.  

Fastest growth in the G7 over the last two years. 

Debt – on target to be falling. 

The NHS – treating more patients than last year.  

And small boats – crossings significantly down on last year.

But put simply: that isn’t enough.

If for too many, there remains a nagging sense that the path we’re on no matter which party is in government isn’t quite what we hoped for, and that no one seems to have the courage to say so.

That we make too little, that we spend too much, that things take too long and that even when we know these things, we seem powerless to change them.

Now, I am here today to tell you that we do not have to be powerless.

Our future doesn’t have to be a foregone conclusion.

Our destiny can be of our own choosing.

But only if we change the way our politics works.

Can we be brave in the decisions we make, even if there is a political cost?

Can we be honest when the facts change, even if it’s awkward?

And can we put the long-term interests of our country before the short-term political needs of the moment, even if it means being controversial?

I have spent my first year as Prime Minister bringing back stability to our economy, your government, and our country.

And now it is time to address the bigger, longer-term questions we face.

The real choice confronting us is do we really want to change our country and build a better future for our children, or do we want to carry on as we are.

I have made my decision: we are going to change.

And over the coming months, I will set out a series of long-term decisions to deliver that change.

And that starts today, with a new approach to one of the biggest challenges we face: climate change.

No one can watch the floods in Libya or the extreme heat in Europe this summer, and doubt that it is real and happening.

We must reduce our emissions.

And when I look at our economic future, I see huge opportunities in green industry.

The change in our economy is as profound as the industrial revolution and I’m confident that we can lead the world now as we did then.

So, I’ll have no truck with anyone saying we lack ambition.

But there’s nothing ambitious about simply asserting a goal for a short-term headline without being honest with the public about the tough choices and sacrifices involved and without any meaningful democratic debate about how we get there.

The Climate Change Committee have rightly said you don’t reach net zero simply by wishing it.

Yet that’s precisely what previous governments have done – both Labour and Conservative.

No one in Westminster politics has yet had the courage to look people in the eye and explain what’s really involved.

That’s wrong – and it changes now. 

The plans made on your behalf assume this country will take an extraordinary series of steps that will fundamentally change our lives.

A ban on buying new boilers even if your home will never ever be suitable for a heat pump.

A ban that takes effect in just three years for those off the gas grid.

And mandatory home upgrades for property owners in just two years’ time.

There have even been proposals for:

• Taxes on eating meat
• New taxes on flying
• Compulsory car sharing if you drive to work
• And a government diktat to sort your rubbish into seven different bins.

Now I believe deeply that when you ask most people about climate change, they want to do the right thing, they’re even prepared to make sacrifices.

But it cannot be right for Westminster to impose such significant costs on working people especially those who are already struggling to make ends meet and to interfere so much in people’s way of life without a properly informed national debate.

That’s especially true because we’re so far ahead of every other country in the world.

We’ve had the fastest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the G7. Down almost 50% since 1990.

France? 22%.

The US? No change at all.

China? Up by over 300%.

And when our share of global emissions is less than 1%, how can it be right that British citizens, are now being told to sacrifice even more than others?

Because the risk here, for those of us who care about reaching Net Zero – as I do - is simple: If we continue down this path, we risk losing the consent of the British people.

And the resulting backlash would not just be against specific policies but against the wider mission itself, meaning we might never achieve our goal.

That’s why we have to do things differently.

We need sensible, green leadership.

It won’t be easy.

And it will require a wholly new kind of politics.

A politics that is transparent, and the space for a better, more honest debate about how we secure the country’s long-term interest.

So, how do we do that? What is our new approach to achieving net zero?

First, we need to change the debate.

We’re stuck between two extremes.

Those who want to abandon Net Zero altogether – because the costs are too high, the burdens too great or in some cases, they don’t accept the overwhelming evidence for climate change at all.

And then there are others who argue with an ideological zeal: we must move even faster, and go even further no matter the cost or disruption to people’s lives and regardless of how much quicker we’re already moving than any other country.

Both extremes are wrong.

Both fail to reckon with the reality of the situation.

Yes, Net Zero is going to be hard and will require us to change.

But in a democracy, we must also be able to scrutinise and debate those changes, many of which are hidden in plain sight – in a realistic manner.

This debate needs more clarity, not more emotion.

The test should be: do we have the fairest credible path to reach Net Zero by 2050, in a way that brings people with us?

Since becoming Prime Minister, I’ve examined our plans and I don’t think they meet that test.

We seem to have defaulted to an approach which will impose unacceptable costs on hard-pressed British families.

Costs that no one was ever told about, and which may not actually be necessary to deliver the emissions reduction that we need.

And why am I confident in saying that?

Because over the last decade or more, we’ve massively over delivered on every one of our carbon budgets despite continuous predictions we’d miss them.

We’ve seen rapid technological advances which have made things like renewables far cheaper:

Just consider offshore wind, where costs have fallen by 70% more than we projected in 2016.

And people are increasingly choosing to go green – look at how demand for electric vehicles has consistently outstripped forecasts.

Given these things, I’m confident that we can adopt a more pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic approach to meeting Net Zero that eases the burdens on working people.

And that’s the second part of our new approach.

Now I’m not saying there will be no hard choices.

And nor am I abandoning any of our targets or commitments.

I am unequivocal that we’ll meet our international agreements including the critical promises in Paris and Glasgow to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

I’m proud that our country leads the world on Net Zero, with the most ambitious 2030 target of any major economy.

And as we’re as committed as ever to helping developing countries.

Just the other week I announced $2bn for the Green Climate Fund – the single biggest commitment of its kind, the UK has ever made.

But we can do all this in a fairer, better way – and today I can set out the details of what our new approach will mean for people.

That starts with electric vehicles.

We’re working hard to make the UK a world-leader.

I’m proud that we’ve already attracted billions of new investments from companies like Tata’s Jaguar Land Rover gigafactory.

And I expect that by 2030, the vast majority of cars sold will be electric. Why?

Because the costs are reducing; the range is improving; the charging infrastructure is growing.

People are already choosing electric vehicles to such an extent that we’re registering a new one every 60 seconds.

But I also think that at least for now, it should be you the consumer that makes that choice, not government forcing you to do it.

Because the upfront cost is still high – especially for families struggling with the cost of living.

Small businesses are worried about the practicalities.

And we’ve got further to go to get that charging infrastructure truly nationwide.

And we need to strengthen our own auto industry, so we aren’t reliant on heavily subsidised, carbon intensive imports, from countries like China.

So, to give us more time to prepare, I’m announcing today that we’re going to ease the transition to electric vehicles.

You’ll still be able to buy petrol and diesel cars and vans until 2035.

Even after that, you’ll still be able to buy and sell them second-hand.

We’re aligning our approach with countries like Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Canada, Sweden, and US states such as California, New York and Massachusetts and still ahead of the rest of America and other countries like New Zealand.

Now, to get to Net Zero, we also need a fairer, better approach to decarbonising how we heat our homes.

We’re making huge advances in the technologies that we need to do that, like heat pumps.

But we need a balance.

Between incentivising businesses to innovate, so heat pumps become even cheaper, more effective, and more attractive. 

But without imposing costs on hard-pressed families, at a time when technology is often still expensive and won’t work in all homes.

For a family living in a terraced house in Darlington, the upfront cost could be around £10,000.

Even the most committed advocates of Net Zero must recognise that if our solution is to force people to pay that kind of money support will collapse, and we’ll simply never get there.

So, I’m announcing today that we will give people far more time to make the necessary transition to heat pumps.

We’ll never force anyone to rip out their existing boiler and replace it with a heat pump.

You’ll only ever have to make the switch when you’re replacing your boiler anyway, and even then, not until 2035.

And to help those households for whom this will be hardest I’m introducing a new exemption today so that they’ll never have to switch at all.

Now, this doesn’t mean I’m any less committed to decarbonising our homes.

Quite the opposite.

But rather than banning boilers before people can afford the alternative; we’re going to support them to make the switch.

I’m announcing today, that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which gives people cash grants to replace their boiler, will be increased by 50% to £7,500.

There are no strings attached.

The money will never need to be repaid.

And this is one of the most generous schemes of its kind in Europe.

Next, energy efficiency.

This is critical to making our homes cheaper to heat.

That’s why we’ve got big government grants like the Great British Insulation Scheme.

But under current plans, some property owners would’ve been forced to make expensive upgrades in just two years’ time.

For a semi-detached house in Salisbury, you could be looking at a bill of £8,000.

And even if you’re only renting, you’ll more than likely see some of that passed on in higher rents.

That’s just wrong.

So those plans will be scrapped, and while we will continue to subsidise energy efficiency - we’ll never force any household to do it.

And that’s not all.

The debate about how we get to Net Zero has thrown up a range of worrying proposals and today I want to confirm that under this government, they’ll never happen.

The proposal for government to interfere in how many passengers you can have in your car.

I’ve scrapped it.

The proposal that we should force you to have seven different bins in your home.

The proposal to make you change your diet – and harm British farmers - by taxing meat.

Or to create new taxes to discourage flying or going on holiday.

I’ve scrapped those too.

And nor will we ban new oil and gas in the North Sea which would simply leave us reliant on expensive, imported energy from foreign dictators like Putin.

We will never impose these unnecessary and heavy-handed measures on you, the British people but we will still meet our international commitments and hit Net Zero by 2050.

And if we’re going to change politics in the way I’m talking about, we can never allow carbon budgets to be set in the same way again.

The last Carbon Budget process was debated in the House of Commons for just 17 minutes and voted through with barely any consideration given to the hard choices needed to fulfil it.

It was the carbon equivalent of promising to boost government spending with no way to pay for it.

That’s not a responsible way to make decisions which have such a bearing on people’s lives.

So, when Parliament votes on carbon budgets in the future, I want to see it consider the plans to meet that budget, at the same time.

If the first part of our new approach to meeting Net Zero is to change the debate and the second part is a more pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic approach that eases the burdens on families…

…then the third is to embrace with even greater enthusiasm, the incredible opportunities of green industry and take the necessary practical steps to create whole new sectors and hundreds of thousands of good, well-paid jobs right across the country.

We’re already home to the four of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, we’re building an even bigger one at Dogger Bank and we’re improving our auction process to maximise private investment into this world-leading industry.

We’re lifting the ban on onshore wind.

We’re investing in four new clusters to capture and store carbon from the atmosphere.

And we’re building new nuclear power stations for the first time in thirty years.

Just this week, we took a significant long-term decision to raise funding for Sizewell C - putting beyond all doubt our commitment to decarbonising our power sector.

And later this autumn, we’ll shortlist the companies to build the new generation of small modular reactors.

But one of our biggest constraints to reaching Net Zero and improving our energy security, is this:

We’re investing billions in new energy projects, yet we don’t have the grid infrastructure to bring that power to households and businesses.

And when energy security is national security – that’s unacceptable.

Right now, it can take fourteen years to build new grid infrastructure.

There are enough projects waiting to be connected to generate over half of our future electricity needs.

So, I can announce today that the Chancellor and Energy Security Secretary will shortly bring forward comprehensive new reforms to energy infrastructure.

We’ll set out the UK’s first ever spatial plan for that infrastructure to give industry certainty and every community a say.

We’ll speed up planning for the most nationally significant projects.

And we’ll end the first-come-first-served approach to grid connections by raising the bar to enter the queue and make sure those ready first, will connect first.

So, from offshore wind, to nuclear, to a revolution in our energy infrastructure investors should have absolute confidence that we’re getting on with the job and the UK will remain the best place in the world to invest in the green industries of the future.

Not least, because of something else this country has always excelled at: innovation in new technologies.

As a country that emits less than 1% of the world’s carbon emissions, one of the most powerful contributions, we can make is our unique ability to develop new technologies that can help the world.

Like the SENSEWind team in Scotland developing the technology to service floating offshore wind turbines while still out at sea.

Or the researchers at Cambridge who pioneered a new way to turn sunlight into fuel.

And that’s why today we’re going further, creating the new, £150m Green Future Fellowship.

This will support at least 50 leading scientists and engineers to develop real, breakthrough green technologies.

And it builds on the £1 billion I invested as Chancellor, in the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

And finally, we can’t tackle climate change without protecting nature; and vice versa.

Just the loss of forests alone accounts for the equivalent of ten times the global emissions of the entire United Kingdom.

And in the coming weeks, ahead of my attendance at COP28, I will set out the next stage in our ambitious environmental agenda.

So, in conclusion.

This country is proud to be a world leader in reaching Net Zero by 2050.

But we simply won’t achieve it unless we change.

We’re now going to have a better, more honest debate about how we get there.

We’ll now have a more pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic approach that eases the burdens on families.

All while doubling down on the new green industries of the future.

In a democracy, that’s the only realistic path to Net Zero.

Consent, not imposition.

Honesty, not obfuscation.

Pragmatism, not ideology.

That’s how we’ll turn the challenge of net zero into the greatest opportunity - and the proudest achievement - of our lifetimes.

And this is just the start.

What we begin today, is bigger than any single policy or issue.

We are going to change the way our politics works.

We are going to make different decisions.

We won’t take the easy way out.

There will be resistance, and we will meet it.

Because I am determined to change our country and build a better future for our children.

Nothing less is acceptable.

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• The objective of the Zero Resource Speech Challenge (ZRC) series is to enable researchers to build a spoken dialogue system directly from raw audio recordings (no text, no labels!)
• This is difficult, so ZRC breaks down the problem into more manageable subtasks, and provides metrics for cumulative progress
• Task 1: Acoustic Unit Discovery
• Task 2: Spoken Term Discovery
• Task 3: Discrete Resynthesis
• Task 4: Spoken Language Modeling

The ZRC series is now open on a rolling basis . Here, you’ll find here step-by-step guides on how to submit your own contributions and appear on the leaderboard! You’ll also be able to download past results to do your own analysis and model comparison.

For hearing humans, speech is the primary form of communication. Most spoken languages have little or no associated textual resources, and in all cultures, young children learn to speak before they learn to read ( Citation: Dupoux , 2018 Dupoux , E. ( 2018 ). Cognitive science in the era of artificial intelligence: A roadmap for reverse-engineering the infant language-learner . Cognition , 173 . 43–59 . Retrieved from https://arxiv.org/abs/1607.08723 ; Citation: Bavin , 2009 Bavin , E. ( 2009 ). The Cambridge handbook of child language . Cambridge University Press . Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/id/10303044 ) . Yet, current language technology is overwhelmingly based on text. Even spoken dialogue systems are based on text (using ASR and TTS to convert speech to text and back to speech, Figure 1a ). Could we get rid of text and build language processing from raw audio?

• It is an interesting self-supervised machine learning problem.
• It would open up applications for thousands of languages that are mostly or entirely unwritten, making AI more inclusive .
• Even in “high resource” languages, speech conveys aspects of language poorly represented in text (prosody, emotional and non-verbal vocalizations, oral expressions, etc). Speech-based systems could be more expressive than text-based ones.
• Self-supervised systems could provide predictive models of language development in a normal or abnormal setting (dyslexia, etc).

Figure. 1. a. Traditional pipeline for a spoken assistant based on textual resources. b. Pipeline and tasks for the Zero Resource Speech Benchmark.

The ZRC series addresses two interlocking research problems: the task problem and the evaluation problem .

The task problem is to break down the overall objective into a series of well-defined sub-problems.

The ZRC series follows the general architecture in Figure 1b : the acoustic model, lexicon, language model, waveform generation, and so on. But instead of using phonemes, characters or words as an intermediate representation, the components develop their own latent representations. For instance, instead of letters, the acoustic model outputs “acoustic units” which may or may not be discrete.

This gives rise to the following tasks:

• Task 3: Unsupervised Discrete Resynthesis

These are the textless counterparts of well-known tasks: (Task 1) phone recognition; (Task 2) word recognition (i.e., ASR); (Task 3) TTS; and (Task 4) Language Modeling. (Task 5 is currently not supported.)

The evaluation problem is to define metrics that enable model comparison and cumulative progress.

In the ZRC series, we use zero-shot probe tasks that are inspired by human psycholinguistics, and which require no model retraining and reflect more directly the quality of the latent representations than if we were to train a classifier.

For each task, zero-shot metrics were developed that probe for the different levels of linguistic knowledge learned by the system. They only require the extraction of information readily available across systems (embeddings, pseudo-probabilities). See the sub-pages for each task and ( Citation: Dunbar , Hamilakis & al. , 2022 Dunbar , E. , Hamilakis , N. & Dupoux , E. ( 2022 ). Self-supervised language learning from raw audio: Lessons from the zero resource speech challenge series . IEEE Journal of Special Topics in Signal Processing , 16(6) . 1211–1226 . Retrieved from https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.12656 ) for more information.

Copyright (c) 2015 - 2023 CoML team - INRIA, ENS, EHESS, CNRS.

Last updated on May 24 14:53 2023

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Rio de janeiro, 21 june 2012, remarks at the launch of the zero hunger challenge, ban ki-moon.

I am here today to tell you why the Zero Hunger Challenge is so critical to sustainable development.

I know that many of you are already focusing on ways to end hunger. Our challenge is to work better together to realize this vision.

Sustainable development is simply not possible in a world where nearly one billion people are hungry every day. Ending hunger is not only vital for our peace and security … it is essential for our collective future.

Our host country – Brazil – is an inspiration. Brazil’s “Fome” programme is proof that societies can beat back hunger using local food from family farmers and community kitchens. It works thanks to a powerful combination of civil society action and strong political leadership.

I am very proud that one of the leaders of that effort - José Graziano da Silva – is now Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

I also applaud the combined efforts of FAO, the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, UNICEF, research organization Bioversity International and the World Bank.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We cannot rest while so many people are hungry in a world where there is enough food for all.

We are here because we know this has to change. That is why we are launching the Zero Hunger Challenge. It has five objectives.

First, make sure that everyone in our world has access to enough nutritious food all year long. They should be able to buy it, grow it, or get it through a safety net.

Second, end childhood stunting. It affects almost 200 million children today, with a profoundly negative impact on future generations. Proper nutrition between the beginning of pregnancy and a child’s second birthday is the foundation for an entire life.

Third, build sustainable food systems. Whether our focus is business, the environment, farming or health, we must agree on how all can be nourished in a way that also nurtures our planet.

Fourth, double smallholder farmers’ productivity and income while creating decent employment. These farmers, especially women, produce most of the world’s food. Improvements in their wellbeing create employment, cut poverty, increase the food supply, and stabilize prices for everyone.

Fifth, prevent food from being lost or wasted. As much as one third of all food gets lost between harvesting and consumption. That is just too much. We must reduce these tragic losses. We must also produce and consume food responsibly, mindful of the environment and of our long-term health.

In Korean, we have a saying that, “Each grain of rice represents a drop of the farmer’s sweat.” I am sure that many languages pay similar tribute to the value of even the smallest morsel of food and the effort that goes into producing it. When food is lost or wasted, we also waste water, soil, energy and effort.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With this drive to defeat global hunger, we are not proposing a new goal. We are sharing a vision for the future. A future where all people enjoy their fundamental right to food. Where people’s livelihoods and food systems are resilient and able to withstand a changing climate.

Iam counting on all partners to come together and make this happen. Governments, farmers, scientists, activists, businesses and consumers all have to be part of this effort.

Many leaders attending this conference have pledged to work for an end to hunger. I know they will respond to the Zero Hunger Challenge. Together we can end hunger in our lifetime.

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Press statement

Message from the unaids executive director on zero discrimination day 2021.

This year’s Zero Discrimina

This year’s Zero Discrimination Day is an especially poignant one.

It was said at first that viruses don’t discriminate. But as we’ve witnessed again, crises, and societies, do.

COVID-19 has magnified the fissures in society. It has seen marginalized communities, who were already on the edge, taking the hardest economic hit, getting stuck at the back of the line for vital services and getting scapegoated for the crisis.

Yet the crisis has also seen the most excluded communities being, once again, the first to step up to help—rooted in their expertise from experience, in their empathy and in their insistence that health for all and a recovery for all is possible.

UNAIDS joins with communities across the world in demanding equality. We say a resolute no to all inequalities—whether because of gender, income, race, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity and religion. Such inequalities disfigure society and undermine justice and dignity.

We demand an end to discrimination, stigmatization and criminalization.

We challenge all institutions and all people of influence to not only be non-discriminatory, but to be anti-discrimination.

Discrimination kills. It exacerbates emergencies and it perpetuates pandemics.

The world is off track to end AIDS by 2030 not because of a lack of knowledge, capability or means but because of structural inequalities that stand in the way. For example, research shows that punitive laws regarding sexual orientation double the likelihood of acquiring HIV for gay men and other men who have sex with men. Repealing such laws is central to beating the HIV pandemic.

So too, discrimination against migrants and other excluded and stigmatized populations is obstructing their access to COVID-19 testing, treatment and support. This hurts everybody.

We are seeing the discrimination that scars our countries play out also at the international level. As new vaccines against COVID-19 have become available, there has been gross inequity. Just 10 countries have administered more than 75% of all COVID-19 vaccines, while more than 130 countries have not received a single dose. South Africa has called this vaccine apartheid. As the United Nations Secretary-General has said, “Vaccine equity is ultimately about human rights ... Vaccine nationalism denies it.” Around the world, and in every country, we must value every person as equally precious.

Ending inequalities will advance the human rights of all, make societies better prepared to beat COVID-19 and future pandemics and support economic recovery and stability.

We need to ensure everyone’s right to health through publicly provided and financed health care—and provide it respectfully to all, without reservation or judgement.

All of us need to call out discrimination wherever we see it, and to work to set an example.

A healthier, safer, more equal and prosperous world depends on it.

I am inspired by the leadership shown by communities facing discrimination. Their determination, courage and vision is our guiding light. The United Nations stands alongside, as a resolute ally for equality.

End inequalities. Demand zero discrimination.

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube .

Download the printable version (PDF)

Zero Discrimination Day — End inequalities

On ‘Zero Discrimination Day’ UN urges tackling everyday biases; ask yourself ‘what if...?'

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To mark Zero Discrimination Day, the United Nations agency coordinating the global effort to tackle HIV/AIDS is challenging people to recognize where everyday discrimination takes place and take action to stop it by asking themselves simple questions: ‘What if the person you bought your vegetables from was living with HIV? Would you buy tomatoes from him?’

“We will never guarantee the right to health and end the AIDS epidemic if we exclude people,” said the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ), Michel Sidibé. “However, huge structural barriers stand in the way of the health and well-being of millions.”

This year’s Zero Discrimination Day campaign invites people to ask themselves ‘what if’ questions to reflect upon their everyday actions, such as: What if the person you bought your vegetables from was living with HIV? Would you buy tomatoes from him? What if your neighbour had tuberculosis? Would you stop to chat?

UNAIDS says no one should ever be discriminated against because of their HIV status, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, language, geographical location or migrant status, or for any other reason.

Discrimination is often based on misinformation or fear of the unknown, the agency says, warning that allowing discrimination to continue is not only wrong, it is bad for communities, bad for the economy and bad for the future.

Ending discrimination requires action from everyone. Zero Discrimination Day is an opportunity to highlight how everyone can be a part of the transformation and take a stand towards a more fair and just society, UNAIDS says.

Zero Discrimination Day is annually observed on 1 March.

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Harris and Trump zero in on the economy in campaign speeches

David Folkenflik

The economy was a major theme last week for both presidential campaigns. We hear some of what was said.

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

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Changing the game: Zero waste for climate action

Your excellency, Ermin Erdoğan, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye

My friend and Nairobi colleague Maimunah Mohd. Sharif, Executive Director of UN Habitat

Selwin Hart, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action

My deep thanks to First Lady Erdoğan for the kind invitation to speak at this important event.

The waste we produce is weighing down the planet. Every year we generate more than 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste. At least 33 per cent of this is not managed in an environmentally safe manner. This is expected to skyrocket to more than 3 billion tonnes by 2050. And in the regions where waste generation is rising rapidly, more than half of waste is currently openly dumped. Our waste has implications for the environment. For health. And for prosperity.

The planet’s waste challenge is part and parcel of what we at UNEP call the triple planetary crisis – the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature and biodiversity loss and the crisis of pollution and waste. At this time of climate crisis, solid waste treatment and disposal accounts for roughly 5 per cent of global emissions. If food loss and waste were a country, it would be the third biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. And at this time of biodiversity crisis, IPBES tells us that pollution is a critical driver of biodiversity loss. Hazardous chemicals and other pollutants (e.g. endocrine-disrupting chemicals and pharmaceutical pollutants) continue to be released in large quantities impacting human and environmental health. And at this time of the pollution and waste crisis, 11 million tonnes of plastic waste is being dumped into our oceans each year, finding its ways into the bellies of animals, into the water we drink and into us humans.

Türkiye’s zero waste initiative is an important demonstration of the reality – that waste management is and must be seen as an important compliment to sustainable development. Because we cannot continue to take from the earth’s belly with abandon and then simply discard into the environment when we are done. Our consumption and production patterns are overdrawing on the earth’s capacity by 1.7 times. It is unconscionable that we continue to throw away valuable metals, resources, and food when we are so clearly in debt to the planet and inequality is on the rise world over.

I am particularly pleased at the fifth UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi earlier this year, Member states agreed to kick-start negotiations towards a legally binding global agreement to end plastic pollution. While negotiations will begin in Uruguay in a few months, if such a deal, working closely with all stakeholders, tackles head on the full life cycle of plastics use, we have a real opportunity here to spur a new plastics economy. And there is much to learn and indeed innovate from the multilateral space. Science-based solutions and learning from country experiences can guide us to develop a roadmap that will truly end plastic pollution by 2040.

There is no one-size fits all approach to tackling the environmental challenges we face. But the bottom line remains that strong national action, grounded in science, with the necessary government guardrails are critical ingredients to tackling the triple planetary crisis head on. So, I thank you for your work and I look forward to learning more about the zero waste initiative.

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10 Lines on Zero Discrimination Day for Students and Children in English

March 28, 2023 by Prasanna

10 Lines on Zero Discrimination Day:  Zero Discrimination Day is praised on 1st March each year to bring issues to light among individuals about correspondence and rising discrimination in the general public based on sex, caste, religion, health conditions, and so on. Discrimination disregards human rights and hampers the development of the advancing country. The day is additionally seen by associations like the United Nations and UNAIDS to battle the shame and discrimination looked by the people influenced by HIV/AIDS. The people of poor and under-developed countries worldwide are of the more danger of confronting discrimination depending on race, religion, sex, and ethnicity. Discrimination of any structure disturbs the feasible development of the society just as the country.

You can read more  10 Lines  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Set 1 – 10 Lines On Zero Discrimination Day for Kids

Set 1 is helpful for students of Classes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

• On 1st March every year, the Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated.
• This day is dedicated to promoting equality before the people, the law of the land.
• This day generally focuses on no discrimination despite having different gender, sex, ethnicity, and physical disability.
• On 1st March 2014, The United Nations, along with UNAIDS, celebrated this day for the first time.
• For promoting the right of people and living their lives without any discrimination, this day is celebrated.
• This day encourages everybody to show their true talents and skills and be proud of it.
• Different talk shows, debates, and public shows are held on that day.
• This festival is celebrated globally.
• This celebration helps to stop violations against human rights.
• Zero Discrimination Day allows people to fight the stigma and discrimination faced by generally the people who are infected with HIV.

Set 2 – 10 Lines On Zero Discrimination Day for School Students

Set 2 is helpful for students of Classes 6, 7 and 8.

• The Zero Discrimination Day is commended each year on 1st March to advance and promote the equity eye of the law of the land.
• The program celebration intends to feature the various kinds of segregation like sex, sex, ethnicity, and physical disability.
• The day was first celebrated on March 1st, 2014, by the United Nations alongside UNAIDS, a joint program of the United Nations, to battle AIDS.
• Zero Discrimination Day is commended every year to advance the privilege of individuals to carry on with their lives with any partiality in society.
• Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated each year to urge individuals to commend uniqueness and value their ability and skills.
• Zero Discrimination Day is praised by arranging open public speeches, television shows, and discussions.
• Every year, the day is commended over the globe with a topic to advance fairness among the people.
• Zero Discrimination Day 2019 topic was “Act to Change Laws that Discriminate.”
• The day likewise assists with forestalling violations of human rights through awareness battles.
• The recognition of Zero Discrimination Day helps in facing the conflict of disgrace and discrimination looked by individuals contaminated by HIV.

Set 3 – 10 Lines On Zero Discrimination Day for Higher Class Students

Set 3 is helpful for students of Classes 9, 10, 11, 12 and Competitive Exams.

• The Zero Discrimination Day gives a chance to a person to make a reasonable and fair society.
• Many nations compose photograph presentations, film screenings, shows, narrating occasions, and classes to praise the day.
• Zero Discrimination Day celebration likewise helps in battling the disgrace, and discrimination of individuals who are transgender, gay, or lesbian.
• Zero Discrimination Day recognition forestalls discrimination dependent on the wellbeing states of individuals like HIV or any psychological issue.
• The objective of celebrating Zero Discrimination Day is to make a situation for supportable human improvement worldwide.
• Zero Discrimination Day celebration assists with compassion and resilience among individuals around the globe.
• United Nations and UNAIDS lead projects to feature issues like disparity and discrimination dependent on sex, ethnicity, and religion.
• The countries around the world launch new activities and strategies as a team with the United Nations to dispense with and control discrimination.
• On Zero Discrimination Day, workplaces, schools, universities, and organizations lead projects to teach individuals about different sorts of segregation looked by individuals in society.
• The image of Zero Discrimination Day is a butterfly generally utilized by individuals around the world to share their contemplations for wiping out discrimination.

FAQ’s on 10 Lines on Zero Discrimination Day

Question 1. What is the meaning of discrimination?

Answer: The meaning of discrimination is mistreating an individual because of their characteristics or simply who they are. The factors which lead to people to discriminate against someone is based on their sex, religion, caste, gender, or even health conditions.

Question 2. What was the theme of Zero Discrimination Day for the year 2019?

Answer: ‘Act to change laws that discriminate’ was the theme for the campaign of Zero Discrimination Day for making the country understand that people should not treat unfairly against the laws.

Question 3. Explain the full meaning of UNAIDS.

Answer: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS is the full meaning of UNAIDS.

Question 4. When we celebrate Zero Discrimination Day?

Answer: On 1st March every year, we celebrate Zero Discrimination Day.

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Zero Discrimination Day Speech – 10 Lines, Short and Long Speech Samples here !

Every year on March 1st, Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated to create awareness among people about the correlation and rise in public prejudice based on factors such as sex, caste, religion, health conditions, and other factors. Discrimination violates human rights and impedes the progress of a developing nation. Organizations like the United Nations and UNAIDS also observe the day to fight the stigma and discrimination experienced by those affected by HIV/AIDS. People worldwide who live in poor and developing nations are more likely to experience prejudice based on their race, religion, sex, and ethnicity. Discrimination against any structure impedes the society’s and the nation’s ability to develop sustainably. Discover the different samples on zero discrimination in the article below.

Table of Contents

10 Lines Speech on Zero Discrimination Day

• Zero Discrimination Day is observed on March 1st every year.
• It is a day that aims to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Discrimination can take many forms, including based on race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Discrimination harms individuals and communities, and it is our responsibility to fight against it.
• The day encourages us to stand up against discrimination and promote acceptance and understanding.
• We must work together to break down the barriers that perpetuate discrimination.
• Zero Discrimination Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and educate others about the harm that discrimination causes.
• The day is recognized by the United Nations and is celebrated around the world.
• Zero Discrimination Day reminds us that every person deserves respect, dignity, and equality.
• By working together, we can create a world where zero discrimination is a reality.

Short Speech on Zero Discrimination Day

Dear friends,

Today is Zero Discrimination Day, which serves as a reminder of our shared obligation to advance inclusivity and equality for everyone. Millions of people worldwide experience discrimination on the basis of their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, handicap, or other unique personal qualities.

Discrimination harms people on an individual level, but it also erodes the social cohesion of our community. It breeds discord, fosters mistrust, and upholds inequality. We must thus take action to put an end to discrimination in all of its manifestations.

This day serves as a reminder that each of us has the power to change the world by combating prejudice, advancing tolerance and understanding, and encouraging diversity and inclusion. Regardless of their background, we must strive to create a world where everyone is recognized, cherished, and treated equally.

The occasion provided by Zero Discrimination Day allows us to acknowledge diversity and advance inclusiveness. It is also an opportunity to consider how discrimination impacts people and communities and to take steps to make the world more just and equal. Organizations, people, and governments from all over the world come together on this day to spread awareness and take action to combat discrimination in all of its manifestations.

Let’s speak out against prejudice today, show solidarity for those who have been impacted by it, and fight to ensure a brighter future for all. Together, we can make it such that no one is ever discriminated against and that everyone has the chance to succeed.

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Long Speech on Zero Discrimination Day

I am honored to speak to you today on the occasion of Zero Discrimination Day. Discrimination is a problem that affects individuals and communities around the world. Discrimination can manifest in many forms, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. It is our responsibility to promote equality and inclusivity and to fight against discrimination in all its forms.

On Zero Discrimination Day, we have the chance to spread the word about the effects of discrimination and educate ourselves and others about them. Also, it provides a chance to celebrate diversity and advance tolerance and understanding. The day serves as a reminder that we are all created equal and that everyone is deserving of being treated with respect and dignity.

Those who experience discrimination may feel alienated, stigmatized, and marginalized, which can have serious effects. Discrimination can also have wide-ranging effects on society, such as the maintenance of inequality, social marginalization, and even violence. Hence, it is crucial to encourage diversity and inclusivity as well as to combat bigotry whenever we come across it.

We must admit that discrimination can be difficult to combat because it is frequently ingrained firmly in society. Governments, institutions, and communities must all take action in order to address it; it is not only the duty of the individual. No matter what our backgrounds are, we must come together to build a world where everyone is treated fairly and with respect.

Promoting discrimination education and awareness is one way we may move closer to achieving this aim. We can get knowledge about the effects of discrimination on people and communities. We can discover more about the many types of discrimination and how they relate to one another. We may begin to remove the obstacles that support discrimination by increasing awareness and educating both ourselves and others.

Promoting inclusion and diversity is another way we can work to make the world more inclusive. We may embrace the distinctions that make us special and acknowledge that everyone has something worthwhile to offer. We can design environments that are warm and inclusive, where everyone is treated with respect and value.

Finally, we must all resolve to combat bigotry wherever we come across it. We may speak out against discriminatory conduct, dispel false perceptions, and advance inclusion and equality. We can aid groups and projects that aim to advance inclusivity and diversity.

In conclusion, Zero Discrimination Day reminds us that we all have a role to play in creating a more just and equitable world. By promoting awareness, celebrating diversity, and taking action against discrimination, we can work towards a world where everyone is treated equally and with respect. Let us all commit to this goal and work towards creating a better future for all.

FAQs on Zero Discrimination Day Speech

Zero Discrimination Day is a global observance day that is celebrated on March 1st each year. The day aims to promote diversity, inclusion, and equality for all people, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or other personal characteristics.

Discrimination can have significant impacts on individuals and communities, including perpetuating inequality and social exclusion. Zero Discrimination Day is important because it raises awareness about the harms of discrimination and promotes acceptance and understanding of diversity.

Individuals can support Zero Discrimination Day by educating themselves about the impact of discrimination, speaking out against discriminatory behavior, promoting inclusivity and diversity, and supporting organizations and initiatives that work towards equality and inclusion.

Organizations can participate in Zero Discrimination Day by establishing practices and policies that value diversity and inclusivity, offering training on issues of bias and discrimination, and assisting with efforts that advance equality and inclusion.

Governments may support Zero Discrimination Day by putting in place laws and regulations that encourage equality and outlaw discrimination, giving aid and support to groups working to promote inclusion and diversity, and raising public awareness of the negative effects of discrimination.

By Gauri Malik

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